European Council (EC) President Donald Tusk has said that the European Union (EU) needs to have a long term strategy for Russia.
Tusk made the remarks Thursday after the EU's winter summit which he chaired for the first time since being at the helm from Dec. 1, Xinhua reported.
"We need a long perspective strategy because this conflict and this complex situation between Ukraine and Russia and other eastern neighbours of Europe need a plan for years," Tusk said, adding that the leaders' discussion was very practical because "Russia's behaviours need pragmatic reactions".
"We have to be realistic, we have to treat this as a long time game, not just one reaction to one crisis," Tusk added.
Before the summit started, the EU Council announced a decision to impose "substantial" additional sanctions on investment, services and trade with Crimea and the Crimean port city of Sevastopol, annexed by Russia in March.
The EU said this was to reinforce its policy of not recognising Russia's "illegal annexation" and followed a conclusion by the Foreign Affairs Council November 17.
Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated that Moscow would not bow to external political pressure and would stay firm to protect its national interests.
Tusk also voiced EU's support for Ukraine, saying "when we are talking about the future of Ukraine, we know we are talking about our European future".
The European Council said in a statement that the EU and its member states were ready to further facilitate and support Ukraine's reform process and it welcomed the European Commission's readiness to increase humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian people.
The EU leaders also voiced concern over the situation in eastern Ukraine.
